Sam Berger(Samuel Berger)

Berger was an outstanding Amateur
Heavyweight Champion; He fought out of the Olympic Club of San Francisco
and had around 40 amateur fights, winning nearly all of them by
knockout

Berger was the first Olympic Heavyweight Champion,
winning the Gold Medal at the 1904 St. Louis Games, the first time
boxing was included as an event; Competing as a member of the San
Francisco Olympic Club, he weighed 180 pounds and defeated Charles Mayer
of New York in the championship bout

Sam turned professional following the Olympic Games but fought pro for
only two years; As a professional fighter, he had good boxing technique
but lacked substantial hitting power when pitted against the better
professionals

His most notable fight was a six-round no decision bout in 1906 against
the Light-Heavyweight Champion, "Philadelphia" Jack O'Brien; Following his
retirement, he worked as a sparring partner for Jim Jeffries during
1909-1910 when Jeffries was training for his comeback against Jack
Johnson

Berger later owned a clothing store in San Francisco; He is a member of
the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame

*** AMATEUR BOUTS ***1901
-Berger won the Amateur Middleweight Championship of the Pacific Coast
at San Francisco, Ca

Jul 17 Clement Milward
San Francisco, Ca
SCH -This bout was scheduled; The outcome is
not known

1902
-Berger won the Amateur Heavyweight Championship of the Pacific Coast
at San Francisco, CaJul 9 Jack Joyce
San Francisco, Ca
TK

1903
-Berger won the Amateur Heavyweight Championship of the Pacific Coast
at San Francisco, Ca